A total of 13.04 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered in Q2 2021, a record figure in the time series that started in 1997. Production increased by 7.6% against the same quarter in 2020 and by 2.9% against the same quarter in 2021.

In Q2 2021 7.08 million cattle head were slaughtered, 4.4% less than in Q2 2020 and 7.4% more than in Q1 2021. That was the lowest level for a second quarter since 2011.

In Q2 2021, a total of 1.52 billion chickens were slaughtered, representing an increase of 7.8% against the previous quarter in 2020 and a decrease of 3.0% against Q1 2021. These are the best results for a Q2 in the time series since the start of the time series in 1997.

Acquisition of raw milk in Q2 2021 reached 5.82 billion liters, with a decrease of 1.0% in relation to Q2 2020 and a drop of 11.4% against the previous quarter.

In Q2 2021, the output hen eggs reached 985.70 million dozens, with an increase of 0.9% in relation to Q2 2020 and of 0.5% againt Q1 2021. That was the biggest output for a Q2 and the fourth biggest in the entire time series.

Slaughter of cattle reached lowest figure for a Q2 since 2011

In Q2 2021, a total of 7.08 million cattle head slaughtered under some type of sanitary inspection, which means a decrease of 4.4% against Q2 2020, nevertheless, with an increase of 7.4% against the previous quarter. That was the lowest result for a second quarter since 2011. April was the month recording the lowest activity in the quarter (2.24 million head) whereas June had the best performance (2.44 million).

The result keeps a trend to retention of heifers observed since the start of 2020: the total heifers slaughtered was 2.59 million, the lowest for a Q2 since 2003. At the same time, the average prices of the arroba (32 pounds) for bulls and calves remained at high levels and the volume of beef exported was the second highest in a Q2, considering the time series of the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX/ME), with a record production for a month of April (125.50 thousand tonnes).

The slaughter of 328.33 thousand cattle head less in the 2nd quarter of 2021, in relation to the same period a year ago, was motivated by decreases in 21 of the 27 Federation Units. Among those with a contribution above 1.0%, the most significant decreases took place in: Mato Grosso do Sul (-85.44 thousand head), Mato Grosso (-74.40 thousand), Paraná (-67.66 thousand), Rio Grande do Sul (-63.15 thousand), São Paulo (-56.88 thousand), Minas Gerais (-20.50 thousand), Rondônia (-18.02 thousand) and Bahia (-17.53 thousand). The main positive contributions were those of: Goiás (+81,40 thousand), Pará (+77.26 thousand), Tocantins (+4.51 thousand) and Acre (+2.3 thousand).

Among the FUs, Mato Grosso is still the leader in terms of cattle slaughter, accounting for 15.7% of the national share, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (11.3%) and Goiás, which replaced São Paulo (10.2%) as number three in the equivalent quarter in 2020.

Slaughter of hogs and pigs hits a record in the time series

In the 2nd quarter of 2021, 13.04 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered, with an increase 4.7% of 7.6% against the same period in 2020 and of 2.9% against Q1 2021. The monthly index had its best results in the months of April, May and June, leading to a record in slaughter of hogs and pigs in this time series that started in 1997. The record result of pork exports, with a peak in June, contributed to this scenario.

The slaughter of 923.56 thousand hogs and pigs more in relation to the same period in 2020 was fostered by increases in 18 of the 25 Federation Units. Among the states with a share over 1.0%, increases occurred in: Rio Grande do Sul (+273.47 thousand), Santa Catarina (+222.13 thousand), Paraná (+156.58 thousand), Mato Grosso do Sul (+86.97 thousand), Goiás (+73.00 thousand), Minas Gerais (+69.47 thousand), São Paulo (+19.96 thousand) e Mato Grosso (1.19 thousand).

In the ranking of FUs, Santa Catarina remained leading the slaughter of hogs and pigs, with 28.5% of the national participation, followed by Paraná (20.5%) and Rio Grande do Sul (17.5%).

Slaughter of chickens hits record figure for a Q2

In the 2nd quarter of 2021, 1.52 billion chickens were slaughtered, accounting for a decrease of 7.8% against the same period in 2020 and a decrease of 3.0% in relation to Q1 2021. This result was the best for a second quarter in the time series. May was a highlight among the months, with 519.54 million chickens slaughtered. The performance of chicken meat exports affected the result positively, since it reached the highest level since Q3 2018.

The slaughter of more 44.26 million chicken head in the 3rd quarter of 2019, in relation to the same period in the previous year, was determined by increases in the slaughter in 17 out of the 25 Federation Units analyzed in the survey. Among those with a contribution above 1.0%, there were increases in: Paraná (+31.60 million), Goiás (+25.68 million), Rio Grande do Sul (+20.56 million), São Paulo (+6.90 million), Santa Catarina (+5.78 million), Minas Gerais (+4.81 million), Mato Grosso do Sul (+3.89 million), Bahia (+3.31 million), Pernambuco (+1.84 million) and Pará (+1.71 million). On the other hand, the most significant decrease was registered by Mato Grosso (-1.74 million chickens). In the ranking of FUs, Paraná still leads cattle slaughter, accounting for 33.7% of the national production, followed by Rio Grande Sul (13.2%) and Santa Catarina (13.2%).

Acquisition of milk falls in both comparisons

In the 2nd quarter of 2021, the acquisition of raw milk by establishments under some kind of sanitary inspection (federal, state or municipal) was of 5.82 billion liters, representing a decreaase of 1.0% in comparison with the amount produced in Q2 2020 and a decrease of 11.4% against the previous quarter. It is worth mentioning that the sector has a cyclical behavior, in which second quarters regularly record the lowest annual production, a factor caused by the off-season period in the main dairy regions in the country.

The result represents the third biggest obtention of milk in a 2nd quarter, below the results of 2020 (5.87 billion liters) and 2019 (5.86 billion). May was the month with biggest obtention of milk (1.95 billion liters), whereas June accounted for the biggest activity (1;92 billion). Throughout the semester, the segment was affected by the rise of production costs and of the reduced demand.

In comparison with the same quarter in 2020, the decrease of 59.47 million liters of milk obtained at national level resulted from decreases registered in 15 of the 26 Federation Units participating in the Quarterly Survey of Milk. The most significant decreases were those of Minas Gerais (-51.97 million), São Paulo (-33.46 million), Rondônia (-33.32 million), Mato Grosso (-10.43 million) and Rio de Janeiro (-7.91 million). The main increases occurred in Paraná (+46.32 million), Rio Grande do Sul (+19.96 million) and Bahia (+12.27 million).

Minas Gerais still leads the ranking of milk acquisition, with 24.7% of the national acquisition, followed by Paraná (13.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (12.8%).

Acquisition of leather increases, but it is still below that of 2003

In Q2 2021, tanneries surveyed by the Quarterly Survey of Leather received 7.51 million leather pieces, with an increase of 2.6% in relation to Q2 2020 and an increase of 6.2% against Q1 2021.

Despite the increase, acquisition is still close to levels observed in quarterly results of 2003, due to the drop in the numebr of cattle head available for slaughter in the period. It is worth pointing out that tanneries surveyed are those that deal with at least five thousand pieces of rawhide a year.

The comparison between the second quarters of 2020 and 2021 indicated a positive change of 191.79 thousand pieces in the total acquired by the establishments, coming from increases in nine of the 19 Federation Units taking part in the survey. The most significant positive changes came from Federation Units with more than 5.0% participation in leather acquisition, were those of Paraná (+109.83 thousand pieces), Rio Grande do Sul (+97.98 thousand), Pará (+52.13 thousand) and Mato Grosso (+42.07 thousand). On the other hand, the msot significant negative changes were those of Rondônia (-154.98 thousand), Goiás (-25.55 thousand) and São Paulo (-17.41 thousand).

Mato Grosso still ranks as number one among the Federation Units that receive rawhide pieces to be processed, with 16.3% of the national contribution, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (13.5%) and Paraná (11.6%), now in the position formerly occupied by São Paulo (10.7%).

Production of hen eggs increases and hits record figure for a Q2

Production of hen eggs hit 985.70 million dozens in the second quarter of 2021, with an increase of 0.9%against Q2 2020 and of 0.5% against Q1 2021. This is the biggest output for a Q2 and the 4th biggest output in the entire tome series that started in 1997. May was the month with a production peak (332.97 million dozens), whereas June was the period of smallest output (321.79 million)

At national level the output of eggs amounted to 8.41 million dozens more, when Q2 2021 ans Q2 2020 are compared, resulting from increases in 14 of the 26 Federation Units in the survey universe. In terms of quantity, Minas Gerais (+5.22 million), Ceará (+4.72 million), Mato Grosso do Sul (+4.24 million) and Bahia (+4.14 million) accounted for the main increases. The biggest decrease among second quarters in both years was that of São Paulo (-10.90 milhões). When compared to the previous quarter, nevertheless, output of this FU remains leveled off.

Having accounted for 27.5% of the national production in Q2 2021, the state of São Paulo is still the main producer of eggs; Espírito Santo is in the second position, with 9.1% of the national output, differently from the previous edition when it was the number three producer. Paraná (9.0%) and Minas Gerais (8.9%) also stand out.